Wimbledon 2011 Preview

It doesn’t seem five minutes since we were toasting the achievements of Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams as they lifted the singles titles at Wimbledon in 2010.

Tomorrow sees the 2011 tournament get underway and there is no clear cut favourite in either the men or the women’s draw.

The Men

Rafael Nadal will walk onto Centre Court tomorrow afternoon as defending champion - some thing that he was not able to do in 2009 when he was forced to pull out of the tournament because of injury.

The Spaniard lifted a record equalling sixth French Open title in Paris just a couple of weeks ago, beating Roger Federer in the final, and while he may not have showed his best form he managed to find a way through.

The top seed faces a potentially tricky passage through the draw - starting with American Michael Russell tomorrow.

Clashes with Ryan Sweeting, Milos Raonic, Juan Martin Del Potro and Andy Murray could all be on the cards over the next fortnight.

However Nadal always brings his best to the majors and a run and he is expected to reach the semis where he would potentially clash with Murray.

The Spaniard has admitted that he was tired at Queen’s lets hope that he has recovered sufficiently to defend his title.

Novak Djokovic has had the most incredible year and has already picked up six ATP title - including the U.S. Open.

After his run on clay, which saw him pick up the Madrid and Rome Masters titles, he was the hot favourite to face Nadal in the French Open final - however his hopes of a first slam in Paris were quashed by Roger Federer in the semi final.

Djokovic has not played since the French Open pulling out of Queen’s to rest. He will face Jeremy Chardy in his opening round.

There are potential clashes with Kevin Anderson, Albert Montanes and Robin Sodering with another semi-final clash with Roger Federer.

Djokovic has always been solid on the grass but he is yet to make that step up and become a real contender on the green stuff - the confidence that he has gathered this season means 2011 could be that year.

Roger Federer had been written off once again earlier this season after struggling to make finals all season.

But the former world number one and sixteen times Grand Slam champion turned his fortunes around in Paris as brought to and end to Djokovic’s winning streak.

He opens his campaign against Mikhail Kukushkin with clashes against David Nalbandian, Mikhail Youzhny, David Isner and David Ferrer all possibly on the horizon.

Andy Murray is once again looking to lift his first Grand Slam title and is hoping to go one better than the semi-final of twelve months ago.

After a disappointing loss at the Australian Open Murray turned his season around on the clay and reached the semi of the French Open, losing to eventual champion Rafael Nadal.

Murray was in majestic form at Queen’s, where he won the title for the second time in his career; he really did play some fantastic tennis.

He faces Daniel Gimeno-Traver in the opening match on Centre Court tomorrow with potential clashes with Marin Cilic, Richard Gasquet and Stanislas Wawrinka before another semi-final match with Nadal.

Other players to keep and eye on include Andy Roddick, who must always be considered at Wimbledon as well as Juan Martin Del Potro, who is still on his way back to full match fitness, while Jo-Wilfred Tsonga looked to be in great form at Queen’s.

It’s hard to see the winner coming from outside the top four and I think that Nadal will defend his title.

The Women

Caroline Wozniacki is the top seed going into the third Grand Slam of the year after an up and down 2011.

Having picked up titles in Indian Wells and the Family Circle Cup it was not a good French Open for the world number one as she crashed out in the third round.

She will face Arantxa Parra Santonja in the opening round but she has the likes of Samantha Stosur, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams in her half of the draw.

Maria Sharapova has found herself in a rich vein of form in recent weeks as she lifted the Rome Masters title before going on a run to the semi-finals at the French Open, losing to Li Na.

But the grass is arguably where she is most comfortable and she seems to be finding her best form just in time for Wimbledon.

She begins her campaign against Anna Chakvetadze and she is in the same half of the draw as Serena Williams, Li Na, and Ana Ivanovic.

Vera Zvonareva is the second seed in the absence of Kim Clijsters and she is looking to go one place better than runner up to Serena Williams twelve months ago.

Serena Williams will be playing in her first Grand Slam tournament since she lifted the Wimbledon title twelve months ago.

Despite her slip out of the top twenty she has been seeded at seven and she will face Aravane Rezai and while she may get through some of the round I don’t expect her to make the semi.

Other players to keep an eye on include Venus Williams, Samantha Stosur, who was in good form at Eastbourne and Li Na is riding on a wave of confidence after winning the French Open.

At the moment there is no runaway favourite in the women’s draw - perhaps Wimbledon comes a little too early for Venus and Serena Williams and I don’t expect either of them to win.

The top seeds fell like dominoes in Paris and this is once again a real possibility as none of the top five have asserted any real dominance over recent months.

But Maria Sharapova may be one to keep an eye one.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw